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HISTORY
The original Guiana was inhabited by semi-nomadic Amerindian tribes who
lived by hunting and fishing; notably Arawaks and Caribs. It was divided by European powers into Spanish Guiana (Venezuela),
Portuguese Guiana (Brazil), French Guiana, Dutch Guiana (Suriname) and British Guiana (Guyana). Colonial competition for territory
began with the Spanish sighting in 1499. Probably temporary Spanish or Portuguese settlements were followed by Dutch settlement,
first unsuccessfully at Pomeroon, and then (in 1627) under the protection of the Dutch West India Company on the Berbice River.
Despite yielding from time to time to British, French and Portuguese invasions, the Dutch kept control until 1814, when the
colonies of Essequibo, Demerara and Berbice were ceded to Britain. The Europeans imported African slaves to develop their
plantations, first of tobacco and later sugar, and to labour on constructing the coastal drainage system and the elegant city
of Georgetown. Some slaves escaped to the forest. Referred to as bush-blacks, these slaves eked out a living by panning
for gold, hunting and subsistence agriculture.
The British administration merged the three colonies into British Guiana
in 1831, but retained the Dutch administrative, legislative and legal system, whereby the country was directed by a governor,
advised by councils of plantation owners. After the abolition of slavery, Indian and smaller numbers of Portuguese, Chinese
and Japanese indentured labourers were brought in to work the estates.
In 1928 a legislative council, with members
appointed by the British government, was established, but members were elected after extensions of the franchise in 1943 and
1945. The country was by this period among the most advanced of the
British colonial territories in the region, and became the headquarters of several regional educational and political institutions.
CARICOM headquarters is located in Georgetown.
In 1953, a constitution with a bicameral legislature and ministerial
system, based on elections under universal adult suffrage, was introduced. There was a general election, won by the People's
Progressive Party (PPP), led by Dr Cheddi Jagan. Shortly after the 1953 elections, the UK suspended the constitution, decided
to mark time in the advance towards self-government, and administered the country with a government composed largely of nominated
members.
When, in 1957, the UK did introduce elected members, the legislature voted for more representative government.
The UK called a constitutional conference which was held in 1960 and provided for a new constitution with full internal self-government.
In the elections held in August 1961 under this constitution, the PPP again gained the majority. The UK held further constitutional
conferences in 1962 and 1963, to settle terms for independence. The political parties failed to reach consensus.
The
UK then selected a form of proportional representation which was aimed at preventing the People's Progressive Party
(PPP) from forming the government. (It was also argued that, at this period of the 'Cuba crisis' with near-war between the
US and USSR, the UK was under pressure to avoid allowing a Socialist government to come to power in Guyana.). Despite renewed
disturbances, elections were held under the PR system, and brought to power a coalition of the People's National Congress
led by Forbes Burnham and The United Force (TUF).
The new government finalised independence arrangements at a further
constitutional conference, which was boycotted by the PPP. Guyana gained independence and joined the Commonwealth in May 1966,
and became a Republic four years later.
CONSTITUTION
Guyana is a Republic, divided into ten (10) administrative regions, with an Executive President and parliamentary legislature.
The 1980 Constitution, amended in 2001, provides for an executive presidency and a unicameral legislature, the National Assembly,
with 65 members directly elected by proportional representation: 40 at a national level and 25 at a regional level. The
normal life of a parliament is five years.
The President appoints the Prime Minister and members of the Cabinet (which may include those from outside the Assembly),
who are responsible to Parliament. The President is the leader of the largest party in the Assembly
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